The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the AlmanacHone, William
History
The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac
Hone, William
Days; Great Britain -- Social life and customs
At _Dublin_, Jan. 14, the snow lay in a quantity unparalleled for half a
century. In the course of one day and night, it descended so
inconceivably thick and rapid, as to block up all the roads, and
preclude the possibility of the mail coaches being able to proceed, and
it was even found impracticable to send the mails on horseback. Thus all
intercourse with the interior was cut off, and it was not until the
18th, when an intense frost suddenly commenced, that the communication
was opened, and several mail bags arrived from the country on horseback.
The snow in many of the narrow streets of Dublin, after the footways had
been in some measure cleared, was more than six feet. It was nearly
impossible for any carriage to force a passage, and few ventured on the
hazardous attempt. Accidents, both distressing and fatal, occurred. In
several streets and lanes the poorer inhabitants were literally blocked
up in their houses, and in the attempt to go abroad, experienced every
kind of misery. The number of deaths from cold and distress were greater
than at any other period, unless at the time of the plague. There were
eighty funerals on the Sunday before this date. The coffin-makers in
Cook-street could with difficulty complete their numerous orders: and
not a few poor people lay dead in their wretched rooms for several days,
from the impossibility of procuring assistance to convey them to the
Hospital-fields, and the great difficulty and danger of attempting to
open the ground, which was very uneven, and where the snow remained in
some parts, twenty feet deep.
From _Canterbury_, January 25, the communication with the metropolis was
not open from Monday until Saturday preceding this date, when the snow
was cut through by the military at Chathamhill, and near Gravesend; and
the stages proceeded with their passengers. The mail of the Thursday
night arrived at Canterbury late on Friday evening, the bags having been
conveyed part of the distance upon men’s shoulders. The bags of Friday
and Saturday night arrived together on Sunday morning about ten o’clock.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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